Car top tent



Feb. 20, 1962 N. A. HOFFMAN CAR TOP TENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April10, 1959 Norman .4. Hoffman INVENTOR. BY W and Feb. 20, 1962 N. A.HOFFMAN CAR TOP TENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 10, 1959 IN VEN TOR.40%

Norman A. Hoffman BY QM m Bk Feb. 20, 1962 N. A. HOFFMAN CAR TOP TENT 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 10, 1959 Norman A. Hoffman, INVENTOR.

United States Patent 'Ofiice U 3,021,852 Patented F eh. 20, 19623,021,852 CAR TOP TENT Norman A. Holfman, 1202 Ft. Howard Ave., West DePere, Wis. Filed Apr. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 805,490 9 Claims. (Cl. 135-1)This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements inconstruction, and more specifically to a novel car top tent.

Although numerous car top tents have been devised in For pletely solved.On the other hand, while the hingedly mounted type cover has proved tobe very successful in that it merely requires the lifting of one end ofthe cover and the provision of a suitable prop, it has failed to providethe normal space requirements because of the limitations of the hinge.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a cartop tent wherein the cover is hingedly connected to the base by means ofan expansible hinge so that when the cover is pivoted from a position insealed engagement with the base to an elevated position, the hinged endof the cover will also be elevated above the base so as to provideadequate space for a camper at both ends of the car top tent.

Another object of this invention is to provide a car top tent which mayhave the length thereof increased by the simple expedient of the baseextension which is pivotally connected to the main base of the car toptent and is swingable to a position extending beyond the vehicle onwhich the car top tent is mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a car top tent which is soconstructed whereby an auxiliary ground supported tent may be readilyattached thereto in sealed relation so that the car top tent and theground supported tent may combine as a single unit thus providing theadditional space requirements of a camper.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel car top tentwhich includes a base and a cover, the sides of the car top tent beingformed by side flaps which extend between the sides of the base and thecover, the side flaps being normally stored within the base and havingsealing gasket materials disposed along lower edges thereof forengagement between the cover and the base so as to form a seal betweenthe two.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel mountingbracket for a car top tent, the mounting bracket being readilyadjustable whereby it may be secured to all types of vehicles andadjusted to support the base of the car top tent in overlying relationwith respect to the vehicle.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a vehicle which has mounted on the topthereof a car top tent which is the subject of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view similar to FIGURE 1 and shows the car top tentof FIGURE 1 in its open position and having attached thereto anextension tent;

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the vehicle and car top tent with the cartop' tent in its open state and the ground engageable tent disconnectedtherefrom;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE3 and shows the specific details of the car top tent and the connectionbetween the car top tent and the ground supported tent;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIGURE4 and shows the details of the base extension and the trap door formedtherein;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 66 of FIGURE 4 and showsthe details of mounting of the forward end of the car top tent and thgeneral arrangement of the components thereof;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 7-7 of FIGURE 1 and showsthe specific manner in which the car top tent is mounted on the vehicle;

and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the mounting bracketsfor supporting the car top tent.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated a conventional type of vehicle 10 which, among othercomponents, includes a top 12 having a rain gutter 14 extending aboutthe sides thereof. Also, the vehicle includes a rear bumper 16. Mountedon the top 12 of the vehicle 10 is the car top tent which is the subjectof this invention, the car top tent being referred to in general by thereference numeral 18.

The car top tent 18 includes a base generally referred to by the numeral20 and a cover generally referred to by the numeral 22. As best shown inFIGURE 4, ,the base 20 includes a bottom wall 24 having upstanding sidepanels 26. The forward end of the bottom wall 24 terminates in anupwardly curved nose 28.

The cover 22 includes a top wall 30 and depending side walls 32. Also,at the forward end of the cover 22 the top wall terminates in adownwardly curved nose 34.

The rear end of the top wall 30 terminates in a generally downwardlycurved portion 36.

The cover 22 is hingedly secured to the base 20 by means of a pair ofhinges 38. The hinges are identical and each extends between a side 26of the base 20 and a side 32 of the cover 22. Each hinge 38 includes 'arelatively short link 40 which is connected to the side 26 by means of apivot 42. A relatively long length 44 is connected to the side 26 bymeans of a pivot 46. Pivotally connected to the short link 40 is a longlink 48. The long link 48 is connected to the short link 40 by means ofa pivot pin 50.

The long links 44 and 48 are in crossed relation and are pivotallyconnected to each other by means of a pivot pin 52. The upper end of thelonglink 48 is pivotally connected to the side 32 by means of a pivotpin 54. A second short link 56 is pivotally connected to the sides 32 bymeans of a pivot pin 38. The short link 56 is connected to the upper endof the long link 44 by means of a pivot pin 60. It will be readilyapparent that the construction of the hinges 38 is such that when thecover 22 is swung upwardly from its closed position of FIGURE 1 to itselevated position of FIGURE 2, not only is the rear end of the cover 22elevated as is the customary arrangement, but also the front end of thecover 22 is elevated above the base 20 so as to provide adequate footroom at the forward end of the car top tent 18.

Extending outwardly between the sides 26 and 32 are side flaps 62. As isbest shown in FIGURE 7, each of the side flaps 62 is secured to theexterior of the side 26 and to the interior of the side 32. Carried bythe side flaps 62 adjacent their intersections with the sides "26 aresealing gasket strips '64. When the cover 22 is in its closedposition,theside flaps 62 aredisposed within the hase20rand thejlower edges ofthe side 32 engage the sealing gasket strips 64 to forma seal betweenthe cover 22 and the ,base .20.

Reference is now had to FIGURE 4 wherein it is showznthat the car-toptent 18 also includes a front flap fifiswhichissecuredtogthenoseportions 28 and '34. The front 1121p .66 .Will also fold into the base20 when the cover 22is-moved to its closed position.

At this timeitj s pointed out that each of the side flaps 62 includes ascreened panel 68 for the purpose of admitting airinto the ear ltop tent18. A curtain 70 is connected to the side flap 62 in overlying relationto the screened .panel about three edgesthereof by means of a slidefastener 72 so, that the curtain 70 maybe lowered and permit theentrance of light and air. During fair weather the curtain 72 maybelowered below thescreen panel 68 and isrsupported in this position bystraps 74. The front flap 6,6 also provided with asereen panel 76 anda-curtain 78.

, Suspended from the cover 22 is 'a shelf construction referred togenerally by reference numeral 80'. The shelf construction isillustrated as including a pair of shelves 82 and84 which-aredisposed atdifferent levels-and which are suspended from the cover 22 at the sidethereof by means .of suitableflexible hangers 86 and 88. When the cover.20.is swung to its closed position, the shelf assembly 8.0 merelycollapses.

The-rear part of the base .20 isopened and there is connectedto the rearedge of the bottom 24 a base extension generally referred toby thenumeral 90. The base extension 90 includes .a platform 92 which isconnected to the bottom 24 :bymeansofa pa'irof hinges 94 the details ofwhich .are bestillustrated in FIGURES 4and 5. It is to benoted that thebase extension 90 maybe swung from a position forming an extension ofthe bottom 24 .to a

position-overlyinglthe bottom 24 within the base 20. The

platform 92 has .an entrance openlng :96 which is normally closed by atrap door 98. The trapdoor '98 is 'lookedjnplace by means ofalatch-assemblYlOO. As is best .showmin FIGURE .4, thetrap door 98swings upwardly and rearwardly .to its open position and is held in this.bya suitable brace 102.

' Extending downwardly from the rear portion 36 of the coyer;22 is arear flap104. The rear flap =4has the lower edge thereof connected tothe rear edge of the platform '92. vAs when the platform .92 is swunginwardly intojthe hase20, the rear flap 10 4 is also moved .into theb33820. further, therearflap 104 serves ,to seal the rear partof thebase ltliandthe cover 22 against theentranoe of :water and otherforeignmatter. The edgesof the rear flap .104 are-secured .tothe rearedges of the side flaps 62 and. cooperatetherewithto provide the desiredseal.

P-ivotally connected to the rear parts of the;side 3 t2 of the cover 22are .props 106. Each of the props 106is provided at the ,loiver endthereof with an opening which reeeivesa pin 108 carried by the base 20.When the cover. 22 isimoved ,10 an open position, it is merelynecessarytoconneot the props ,lllti-to the pins 108.

When the cover .22 is in its lowered position, it isretained in thisposition :by means of a pair of pivotally mounted catches 110. Thecatches 110 engage pins 112 carried-by the cover ;22. The catches 110also serve a dual function in that they retain props 106 in placealongsi-de-the'base 522 when .notjn use. This is best shown in FlGU'REl.

It is to be noted that the .car top tent 18 is mounted on the wehicl'etop 112 ibymeans of a plurality of mounting supports which are referredto in; general by the reference numeral 114 and which are bestillustrated in FIGURE 8. Each of the mounting supports 114 includes acurved base 116 having a rubber pad 118 on the underside thereof forengaging the vehicle top 12. Extending upwardly from the base 116 at thecorners thereof are ears 120 to which there are pivotally connectedfirst links 122 by means of pivot pins 124. The first links 122 haveconnected thereto extensions or second links 126. The first links 122have elongated slots 1228 and the second links 126 have similar slots 130. Extending through the slots 128 and 130are fasteners'132 whichare-used to vary the length of the The links are arranged in pairs andthe upperends of the second links 126 are provided with aligned bores134. The upper ends of two of the second links 126 are transverselyspaced from the upper ends of the other two of the second links 126.

Secured to the underside of the bottom 24'is a plurality of transverseframe members 136. Each of the frame members 13 6 has connected toopposite ends thereof one of the. mounting supports 114. 'Each of thetransverse frame members 1 36 will be disposed between the upper ends ofthe second'lin ks 126 and to which the second links 126 will beconnected by means of a pin 138. From the foregoing, it will be readilyapparent that the mounting supports 1 14 may 'be'readily adjusted to fitany type of vehicle top and to support the car top tent 18 in thedesired relation thereto. The car top tent 18 is secured on thevehicle'top 12 by means of suitable clamps 142. Each ofthe clamps 142includes an anchor member 144 carried by its associatedmounting support114 and an elongated belt 146 which is threadedly engaged in the anchormember 1.44. Carried by the lower end ofthe bolt 146 is a rain gutterengaging member 148 which engages under the rain gutter 14 and serves.to pull the car 10;) tent 18 down onto the vehicle top 12.

It is lobe noted that the base '20 is of a suflicient depth for thesupporting of a sleeping bag. If desired, either a sleepingjbag or thinmattress maybe stored therein. Also, conveniently stored within the basewill be a ladder 150. The ladder 150, when in use, has the lower endthereof resting upon the rear bumper 16 of the vehicle 10 and aforwardly extending upper portion 152 seated in a socket 154 formed onthe underside of thetbottom 24 at the rear thereof.

"The car top tent 18 in itself is sutficient for camping purposes.However, if his so desired, there may be attachedto the car top tent :aground supported extension tent generally referred to byhthe numeral154. The extension tent 154 may be of any desired .constructionandis-secured to the side flaps 62 and the rear flaps 104 by a slidefastener 156. "The junction between the extension tent 154 and the flaps62 and 104fis closed by a flap 158, asjisjbest shown inF-IGURE 4.

'The f orego'ingjis considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, 'itfis notdesired to limittheinvention to the exactconstruction and operation shown and described,and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay beresorted to, falling within the sc pe offthe invention as claimed.

Whatjis claimedas-new is .as follows:

-;1. A car toptent comprising a base, a cover, side'flaps extendingbetween sideedges of said base and saidcoyer, a hinge connectingtogether said cover and said base, andcar top mounting supports ,forsaidbase positioned in. spaced relation along opposite sides thereof, eachof said supportsjincluding a seat member curved for seating on a vehicle:top, .a drip gutter engaging clamp adjacent said seat member, saidsupports each being extensible and provided .with means foradjusting theelfective'height thereof wherebysaid seat members may be properlypositioned to support said base over car tops having different contoursand including two pair of upstanding extensible and adjustable mountingsupports, the supports of each pair .of supportsbeingpivotally securedtogether at their upper ends and to said tent base and pivotally securedto an arcuate top engaging base at their lower ends for movement aboutaxes extending transversely of and spaced longitudinally of said arcuatebase.

2. A car top tent comprising a base, a cover, side flaps extendingbetween said base and cover, means mounting said cover to said base formovement between a collapsed position directly overlying said base andan extended position with one end thereof spaced vertically above saidbase and with said cover and side flaps defining a tent enclosure, saidbase being elongated and adapted to have one end positioned over therear end of a car top, said one end of said base having an extensionconnected to said one end movable between the retracted positionforwardly of said one end of said base and an extended positionextending rearwardly of said one end of said base to project beyond therear end of a car top to which said base is secured, an entrance openingin said base extension and said side flaps enclosing said base extensionwhereby said tent when erected encloses said base exten- S1011.

3. The combination of claim 2 including a trap door normally closingsaid entrance opening.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said tent includes a groundsupported tent extension removably secured to the rear of said tent andadapted to enclose the ground area immediately rearwardly of the vehicleby which tent is supported.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said base extension is hingedlysecured to said base for pivotal movement about an axis extendingtransversely of said base.

6. The combination of claim 2 wherein said mounting means compriseshinge means connecting the forward end of said cover to the forward endof said base. a

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said hinge means includes a pairof hinges extending between corresponding opposite side portions of saidbase and cover.

8. The combination of claim 7, said hinges each including means forelevating the forward end of said cover relative to said base.

9. The combination of claim 6 wherein said hinge means includes a pairof hinges extending between corresponding opposite side portions of saidbase and cover, each of said hinges including a pair of crossed linkspivotally secured together at their midportions, one pair ofcorresponding ends of said links pivotally secured to said base andcover for movement about axes extending transversely of said tent andthe other pair of corresponding ends of said links pivotally secured tocorresponding ends of a pair of short links Whose other ends arepivotally secured to said cover and base for movement about axesextending transversely of said base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,733,007 Dahl Oct. 22, 1929 1,984,681 Jackson Dec. 18, 1934 2,291,900Jimmes Aug. 4, 1942 2,531,678 Gledhill Nov. 28, 1950 2,683,280 MartensJuly 13, 1954

